Santa Barbara County, California
Not the most exciting day — 0-1ft and very poor conditions with gentle SE breeze.
Not the most exciting day — 0-1ft and very poor conditions with gentle SE breeze.
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at Campus Point for the cleanest windows.
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Campus Point, Santa Barbara County, California. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Thu, Sep 3: 0–1ft, 5s period, rated Very Poor. Not the most exciting day — 0-1ft and very poor conditions with gentle SE breeze. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 14mph.
Fri, Sep 4: 0–1ft, 18s period, rated Very Poor. Not the most exciting day — 0-1ft and very poor conditions with gentle E breeze. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 15mph.
Sat, Sep 5: 0–1ft, 16s period, rated Very Poor. A slow one — 0-1ft waves and very poor conditions with glassy conditions.
Sun, Sep 6: 1–2ft, 15s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and poor with gentle N breeze.
Mon, Sep 7: 1–2ft, 13s period, rated Poor. Dawn patrol is the move — 1-2ft on S swell at 13s with glassy conditions. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Two days at a glance. Swipe for later hours.Five days at a glance. Drag for later hours.
Very Poor today — get one free email when Campus Point turns Good.
Check Campus Point from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
Campus Point is a classic west-facing point break that wraps around the UCSB campus area, offering long, peeling waves that peel across sandy bottoms. The break works best with westerly swells and easterly offshore winds, creating smooth, well-organized waves ideal for intermediate surfers looking to practice their turns. The point's orientation and proximity to kelp beds adds character to this scenic Santa Barbara County break that captures swell during fall and winter months.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Campus Point is 0-1ft with a 4.5s swell period. Wind is S at 7mph. Conditions are rated Very Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Campus Point is 0-1ft, produced by a 1.4ft W wind swell swell at 5s, a 1.1ft SSW secondary swell at 11s, a 0.9ft SW tertiary swell at 17s, a 0.7ft SW tertiary swell at 18s. Breaking wave height is the actual rideable wave size at the shore — calculated from offshore swell data using this spot's coastal bathymetry — not the raw buoy reading.
Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf Campus Point is Sunday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 1ft waves, a 14.9s swell period, and conditions rated Poor. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Campus Point works best with a W swell and E winds. Offshore winds groom the face of the wave, while onshore winds turn it sloppy. Cross-offshore conditions usually produce the cleanest shape.
Tide plays a big role at Campus Point. Mid tide works for most beach breaks, while reef and point breaks often prefer higher or lower stages. Use the tide chart above to line up your session with the swell peak.
Campus Point is a point with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Campus Point is a classic west-facing point break that wraps around the UCSB campus area, offering long, peeling waves that peel across sandy bottoms. The break works best with westerly swells and easterly offshore winds, creating smooth, well-organized waves ideal for intermediate surfers looking to practice their turns. The point's orientation and proximity to kelp beds adds character to this scenic Santa Barbara County break that captures swell during fall and winter months.
The prime season at Campus Point is fall, when swell direction, wind patterns, and water temps line up most consistently. Outside the peak season you can still score, but you'll need to watch the forecast closely for the right windows.
Common hazards at Campus Point include kelp, occasional localism, rocky point sections. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Campus Point forecast uses NOAA GFS and other weather models combined with spot-specific bathymetry to calculate breaking wave heights. Short-range (1-3 day) forecasts are most reliable; extended forecasts show general trends. We also verify our offshore swell predictions against NOAA buoy measurements daily — see our accuracy page for those swell-verification metrics (buoys measure open-water swell, not breaking surf size).
